YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The UIC softball team (20-17, 8-1 HL) took a 2-0 series lead Saturday afternoon after recording a pair of shutouts (1-0, 4-0) at Youngstown State (16-21, 4-4 HL). Elaine Heflin recorded the first no-hitter since 2013 in the circle for the Flames, while posting a program-high 17 strikeouts in game one's 1-0 victory, surpassing the 20-year record previously held by Destiny Mollison with 16 (May 3, 1997 vs. Cleveland State).  

Tiana Mack-Miller led the offensive front for UIC, with three hits and three RBI on the afternoon. Taylor Cairns went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a game-winning single in game one and a triple in game two.

The Flames will look to sweep the series Sunday in the finale at 11 a.m. CT.  

UIC 1, Youngstown State, 0
Heflin allowed a mere three-base runners in the career-high performance through nine innings of play in game one, while the Flames were held to just six hits of their own.

UIC's most notable scoring opportunity came early in the second inning. With one out, Jasmine Willis took first base for free after being hit by a pitch, and advanced to second off a wild pitch. Alice Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch following Kayla Wedl's strikeout to put runners on first and second.

Cairns grabbed an infield single to load up the bases, but the Flames were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

The defensive battle continued into the ninth inning, when Willis led off with a single, and was relieved by a pinch running effort from Emily Wetzel, who advanced to second off a groundout. After stealing third, a single from Taylor Cairns broke the scoreless streak to make it 1-0.

Heflin closed out the ninth with two strikeouts, and forced the final batter into a pop up to secure the no-hit performance.  

UIC 4, Youngstown State, 0
For just the second time on the year, UIC secured back-to-back shutouts as it outhit YSU, 8-3. Cairns led the Flames at the plate as she matched her career high with three hits, while Mack-Miller added three RBI.

Karissa Frazier threw her second complete-game shutout of the season and garnered her sixth win while she struck out three, limited the Penguins to just three hits and two walks, and produced three perfect innings over the course of the game.

UIC carried the momentum into game two, putting a run on the board early in the first. Lexi Watts was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot, and was able to advance to third off a groundout from Mack-Miller after stealing second. Skylee James stepped up to the plate and knocked in Watts with a single to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.

The second inning started similar to the first, with Wetzel taking first after being hit by a pitch. Following a YSU pitching change, Cairns laid a bunt along the first-base line to take first base and move Wetzel to second.

Watts saw four balls to load up the bases for Mack-Miller, who singled through the right side to drive in Cairns and Wetzel and extend the Flames' lead to three.

After three scoreless innings, UIC added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, once again off the bat of Mack-Miller. Wetzel led off the inning reaching on a walk, and moved onto second off of Cairns's second bunt of the afternoon.

Watts was hit by a pitch to once again load the bases for Mack-Miller. The third-baseman knocked off a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Wetzel across home plate and make the score 4-0.

The Penguins threatened in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on second with two outs, but a line drive to Claire Crane in left field to secure the second shutout of the afternoon.